You are here

Government to deliver further savings in Commonwealth Property

The Commonwealth Government announced today that it will be formally consulting with industry about strategies to reduce its annual $400 million spend on office fit-out.

The Commonwealth is the largest lessee in the Australian office market, with annual expenditure on leases, fit-out and other property services in excess of $2 billion.

Previous initiatives have put the Government on track to deliver savings of more than $105 million over four years by increasing efficiencies across its property portfolio.

Assistant Minister for Finance, the Hon David Coleman MP, said that there were opportunities to further increase efficiencies in office fit-out. Currently, office fit-outs are spread across multiple arrangements involving the 94 non-corporate Commonwealth entities.

“We are committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent as efficiently as possible,” Minister Coleman said.

“As the largest lessee in the national office market, it is important that our scale is brought to bear in seeking the best deals for taxpayers.”

Minister Coleman said that the industry consultation would help inform the Government’s future approach to office fit-outs.

“While substantial progress has already been made in reducing our property costs, we will continue to look for further opportunities to do more. We look forward to progressing on our office fit-out plans in consultation with industry,” Minister Coleman said.